Well, I promised someone who emailed me that I'd keep going, and I got so many encouraging reviews that I figured what the hell. So here's the next part, and I promised not to have any more...er...flings like that again. This one's rather long, by the way. Please read, and review if you have the time. Tooieleafs
Chapter Eight
Strange American
The carriages tossed and turned as they wound along the path to the old caslte. Rain had begun to pour from the sky a little harder than before, and the omniscent black clouds that hung low in the sky seemed to engulf the lands that were just barely visble over the Forbidden Forest. Thunder boomed across the sky, and lightning briefly lit it every few moments.
And yet Harry was underturbed by all of these factors. He sat, staring blankly out the window of the carriage, sitting next to Ron. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were chattering merrily about something, but Harry was content on staring outside for the time being. Later he would talk. Now his stomach was rumbling as he realized how hungry he was. Lightning flashed abruptly, hitting something nearby; a loud cracking sound could be heard as the bolt made contact with the land.
Harry felt Ron jump next to him.
"Some storm, eh?" Ron said happily.
"Yeah," Harry answered. "Pity the first years. It was a lot like this last year, wasn't it? Rain only, though. Solid rain, no lightning or thunder. Maybe it has something to do with..." he trailed off, knowing that the others knew exactly what he was talking about.
"Could You-Know-Who's presence change the weather, though?" Hermione asked, frowning.
"Well, you never know," said Ron slowly, "he could be the one making all this happen."
"He's too weak," said Harry, turning to face them slowly. "He just rose from being half-dead for over fourteen years. I doubt he can do much of anything now."
"He can kill," was Ron's simple answer.
Harry felt a twinge of...what was it? It wasn't sadness, was it? Cedric's death hadn't affected him in a sad way...more like in the way Harry thought it was his fault. Cedric had been standing next to him, Harry Potter, and was killed because of it. Harry shook his head slowly.
"We're almost there," he said, carefully changing the subject without making it sudtle.
"Good," said Ron, patting his stomach, "I'm starving. Seems like ages ago we were eating Chocalate Frogs..."
They lapsed into silence. After a moment, the carriage pulled to a complete hault, and Harry jumped out, suddenly eager to get back into the old castle. The only safe place in England at the moment, probably. With Dumbledore nearby, Voldemort would not dare attack the castle. Dumbledore was too powerful.
"Off we go!" Harry said brightly, a bit of a bounce in his step. Hermione caught this and eyed Harry strangely.
"Why're you so happy?" Ginny asked, speaking to Harry for the first time since the train ride.
Harry shrugged.
"I'm safe at Hogwarts," he said. "Voldemort won't attack us here."
Ron, Hermione, and Ginny flinched at the sound of his name.
"C'mon, let's keep going," Harry said impatiently.
Ron, with a pat of his stomach, obliged. Hermione and Ginny gave each other skeptical glances, but followed after the boys slowly. Once in the Entrance Hall, Harry shook himself vigorously in an attempt to get all the water off him. He failed of course, only succeeding in wetting everyone within a two foot radius of him. Ron blinked as he was sprayed with water.
"Sorry, Ron," Harry said, grinning.
They marched on to the Great Hall, and there found a seat at the Gryffindor table next to Fred and George, who were speaking in whispers to Lee Jordan, their friend.
Harry plopped down in his chair, staring at the golden trimmed plate before him. No food was yet on it; they would have to wait out the Sorting of the first years before they could eat.
"Where're they at?" Ron demanded angrily. "I'm starved."
"You've already said that," said Hermione.
"I know! I'm just saying it again!" Ron said.
"Don't tell me you two are going to fight the first day back," said Harry.
Ron and Hermione crossed their arms and turned so that they were back to back. Every so often, they would glare at each other, and it perplexed Harry as to why they were mad at each other in the first place. Hermione had just told Ron that he'd already said he was hungry - what was wrong with that? But Ron must've found something wrong with it, so he sat facing Harry.
"Wonder who our new Quidditch captain will be," said Harry thoughtfully.
"Dunno," Ron responded, looking relieved that Harry was talking normally again.
"And I wonder who'll be Keeper."
"Dunno."
At that moment, the doors of the Great Hall had opened, revealing a very tattered, wet bunch of first years, flanked by Hagrid, looking very displeased that he'd had to take them across the lake in the first place. Professor McGonagall was leading them, and the rain seemed to have had no affect on her hair, which was in a very tight, undisturbed bun.
She walked up to the stage and pulled out a stool which she sat in front of everyone. An old, tattered hat was on top of it, patched and dirty, dust surrounding it like a faint mist. For a moment everyone lapsed into silence, staring at the hat. Then a ringing voice suddenly filled the Great Hall, and the brim of the hat was spread wide.
(A/N: Okay, I'm not a poet, and I refuse to even attempt to write a song for the Sorting Hat to sing. Let's just say it sang its little song, and forget about this little techinical detail. Thanks.)
Professor McGonagall brought a long scroll of parchment out.
"When I call your name, place the hat on your head and sit on the stool," she explained to the nervous looking first years. "Then when it calls out your House, go and sit at the table.
"Avis, Smithy."
"SLYTHERIN!" shouted the hat a moment after a black-haired, grim-faced boy put it on.
"Boone, Janet."
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Brind'mour, David."
When this blond-haired boy walked up to the stage, he looked very apprehensive indeed. It took the Sorting Hat a moment or two before it shouted, rather sullenly, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Clarily, Urdai."
"What kind of people name their daughter Urdai?" Ron muttered to Harry as the Sorting Hat shouted "SLYTHERIN!" very loudly.
"We're not having much look this year, are we?" Nearly-Headless Nick, the Gryffindor ghost, muttered crossly.
"No, we're not," Harry replied. "You'd think we'd have at least one Gryffindor by now."
"D'mitt, Kaime."
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Joseph, Kirk."
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Harry clapped loudly as a short brown-haired boy walked over to their table and sat on Harry's right side, smiling cheerfully.
"Finally a Gryffindor," Harry muttered, and Nearly-Headless Nick nodded fervently. "How're you, Kirk, was it?"
The boy nodded.
"Fine," he said. "Glad to be in Gryffindor. Nice to meet you..."
"Harry Potter."
Kirk extended his hand, and Harry took it. He had expected the youth to stare at Harry's forehead, but Kirk did nothing of the sort. Instead, he focused his attention on the Sorting.
"McClain, Berverly."
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Harry clapped and cheered once more. Two in a row.
"McKinnon, Robbie."
Harry's eyebrows wrinkled in confusion. He'd heard that name somewhere, but where? McKinnon, McKinnon, McKinnon....
The girl whose name had been called walked up to the Sorting Hat and popped it cheerfully on her head. The instance it touched her head, it shouted "GRYFFINDOR!"
Three in a row.
After another string of names ("SLYTHERIN" "HUFFLEPUFF" "GRYFFINDOR" "HUFFLEPUFF" and "RAVENCLAW"), McGonagall took the tattered hat from the stool and drew it back from the stage.
For the first time, Harry saw Dumbledore walk out onto the stage. Dumbledore's tall figure looked weary and tired, his silvery beard and hair a bit more ragged than usual. He glanced briefly at the students over his half-moon spectacles, then smiled warmly.
"Before we eat," he said, smile turning to a bit of a smirk as Ron groaned loudly, "I would like to announce that we will have a new course this year, for those of you who wish to be in it: Band. A concert band course may be taken in replacement of one course for those over third year. Those who wish to sign up for band may sign up after the feast. Another note, we are just trying this out, and will discontinue it if anything bad happens. I will introduce our three new teachers afterwards, also.
"Now, eat away."
Everyone clapped, and Harry was more than ready to eat the delicious-looking steak in front of him. It had been a while since he'd had a very decent meal, although Mrs. Weasley was indeed a very good cook. The House-Elves had beat her out this time, however.
After main course, desert appeared. Harry and Ron both devoured their chocolate cake (love those House-Elves thought Harry). Once the food cleared from the plates, Dumbledore stood again.
"First, our new teachers," he said. "Defense Against the Dark Arts will be Dol Tallow." The man Harry recognized as the skiing salesperson stepped forward from his seat behind the other teachers. He waved merrily at everyone, winking at Harry. "Now for our band teachers. First, Professor Trinsinitioff" - a man with brownish hair stepped forward and waved very happily at the students - "and his assistant, Professor Tarifina." A woman with more or less the same color hair as Professor Trinsinitioff stepped forward. She was much more stern-looking than either Tallow or Trinsinitioff, with spectacles much like Professor McGonagall's.
"Now for my little speech," said Dumbledore, smiling a bit. "First off, we will be having two balls this year in replace of the Yule Ball, which we thought was a success - one at Halloween, and one at Christmas. There will also be a Farewell Ball for the seventh years at the end of June.
"We will also be having two Hogsmeade trips, which we will go to by carriage as an extra precaution in light of the past summer's events. You are not to leave the castle unless it is for Care of Magical Creatures, Herbology, or with Professors Trinsinitioff or Tarifina for their band classes. Anyone caught in the Forbidden Forest will be immediately given detention for the rest of the year. I do hate being this strict, but it is necessary.
"Now it is time for bed. The prefects will take you to your dormitories."
Dumbledore waved them off, and Hermione immediately took charge in leading the first years along with the others to the Gryffindor tower. As Harry walked from the Great Hall, a hand touched his shoulder calmly.
"Harry, a word if you please," Dumbledore said slowly, looking a bit grim. A few other students were still there, signing up for the band, Harry guessed. They were watching Dumbledore and Harry interestedly.
Harry nodded, ignoring their stares and following Dumbledore's tall figure towards the staff table. They headed for a door Harry had been in once before: Last year when his name had been called from the Goblet of Fire. The Champions' room. Dumbledore opened the door and gestured for Harry to go on in. Harry obliged.
All of the other professors were sitting there as they had been a year before, only now with more there.
Dumbledore gestured for Harry to sit down in a chair near Trinsinitioff and Tarifina, who both smiled at him.
"Harry..." Dumbledore began. "There has been a death."
Harry felt his insides squirm a little bit, but remained calm.
"Who?" he asked slowly.
"Johnston. Dot Johnston," said Dumbledore slowly, pacing in front of Harry. "A Muggle woman. You've probably heard this already...?" Harry nodded. "But I doubt you realized the importance. Dot was a very big gossip in her day, which leads me to think that she knew something."
Harry sat for a moment in silence as Dumbledore's blue eyes stared into his green.
"D'you think Voldemort was behind it?" he asked finally.
"Yes. It has to be Voldemort. No one could have murdered a Muggle like that, leaving no visible signs of murder. I myself do not know how the murder was commited. The Basilisk Voldemort used to murder most of his victims is dead thanks to your efforts. I don't know...how he did it, but he did."
Dumbledore paused a moment, looking thoughtfully at Harry.
"This does not, in fact, concern you for the most part, except that be careful," said Dumbledore seriously. "Do not leave sight of your friends. I will be attending your Quidditch practice, which we're going to start early this year. Be careful."
Harry nodded solemnly.
"Go on to your dorm, unless you wish to sign up for band. The password is Filepina."
Harry nodded again, then left the room, wondering why Dumbledore had told him of the death of a Muggle woman.
Chapter Eight
Strange American
The carriages tossed and turned as they wound along the path to the old caslte. Rain had begun to pour from the sky a little harder than before, and the omniscent black clouds that hung low in the sky seemed to engulf the lands that were just barely visble over the Forbidden Forest. Thunder boomed across the sky, and lightning briefly lit it every few moments.
And yet Harry was underturbed by all of these factors. He sat, staring blankly out the window of the carriage, sitting next to Ron. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were chattering merrily about something, but Harry was content on staring outside for the time being. Later he would talk. Now his stomach was rumbling as he realized how hungry he was. Lightning flashed abruptly, hitting something nearby; a loud cracking sound could be heard as the bolt made contact with the land.
Harry felt Ron jump next to him.
"Some storm, eh?" Ron said happily.
"Yeah," Harry answered. "Pity the first years. It was a lot like this last year, wasn't it? Rain only, though. Solid rain, no lightning or thunder. Maybe it has something to do with..." he trailed off, knowing that the others knew exactly what he was talking about.
"Could You-Know-Who's presence change the weather, though?" Hermione asked, frowning.
"Well, you never know," said Ron slowly, "he could be the one making all this happen."
"He's too weak," said Harry, turning to face them slowly. "He just rose from being half-dead for over fourteen years. I doubt he can do much of anything now."
"He can kill," was Ron's simple answer.
Harry felt a twinge of...what was it? It wasn't sadness, was it? Cedric's death hadn't affected him in a sad way...more like in the way Harry thought it was his fault. Cedric had been standing next to him, Harry Potter, and was killed because of it. Harry shook his head slowly.
"We're almost there," he said, carefully changing the subject without making it sudtle.
"Good," said Ron, patting his stomach, "I'm starving. Seems like ages ago we were eating Chocalate Frogs..."
They lapsed into silence. After a moment, the carriage pulled to a complete hault, and Harry jumped out, suddenly eager to get back into the old castle. The only safe place in England at the moment, probably. With Dumbledore nearby, Voldemort would not dare attack the castle. Dumbledore was too powerful.
"Off we go!" Harry said brightly, a bit of a bounce in his step. Hermione caught this and eyed Harry strangely.
"Why're you so happy?" Ginny asked, speaking to Harry for the first time since the train ride.
Harry shrugged.
"I'm safe at Hogwarts," he said. "Voldemort won't attack us here."
Ron, Hermione, and Ginny flinched at the sound of his name.
"C'mon, let's keep going," Harry said impatiently.
Ron, with a pat of his stomach, obliged. Hermione and Ginny gave each other skeptical glances, but followed after the boys slowly. Once in the Entrance Hall, Harry shook himself vigorously in an attempt to get all the water off him. He failed of course, only succeeding in wetting everyone within a two foot radius of him. Ron blinked as he was sprayed with water.
"Sorry, Ron," Harry said, grinning.
They marched on to the Great Hall, and there found a seat at the Gryffindor table next to Fred and George, who were speaking in whispers to Lee Jordan, their friend.
Harry plopped down in his chair, staring at the golden trimmed plate before him. No food was yet on it; they would have to wait out the Sorting of the first years before they could eat.
"Where're they at?" Ron demanded angrily. "I'm starved."
"You've already said that," said Hermione.
"I know! I'm just saying it again!" Ron said.
"Don't tell me you two are going to fight the first day back," said Harry.
Ron and Hermione crossed their arms and turned so that they were back to back. Every so often, they would glare at each other, and it perplexed Harry as to why they were mad at each other in the first place. Hermione had just told Ron that he'd already said he was hungry - what was wrong with that? But Ron must've found something wrong with it, so he sat facing Harry.
"Wonder who our new Quidditch captain will be," said Harry thoughtfully.
"Dunno," Ron responded, looking relieved that Harry was talking normally again.
"And I wonder who'll be Keeper."
"Dunno."
At that moment, the doors of the Great Hall had opened, revealing a very tattered, wet bunch of first years, flanked by Hagrid, looking very displeased that he'd had to take them across the lake in the first place. Professor McGonagall was leading them, and the rain seemed to have had no affect on her hair, which was in a very tight, undisturbed bun.
She walked up to the stage and pulled out a stool which she sat in front of everyone. An old, tattered hat was on top of it, patched and dirty, dust surrounding it like a faint mist. For a moment everyone lapsed into silence, staring at the hat. Then a ringing voice suddenly filled the Great Hall, and the brim of the hat was spread wide.
(A/N: Okay, I'm not a poet, and I refuse to even attempt to write a song for the Sorting Hat to sing. Let's just say it sang its little song, and forget about this little techinical detail. Thanks.)
Professor McGonagall brought a long scroll of parchment out.
"When I call your name, place the hat on your head and sit on the stool," she explained to the nervous looking first years. "Then when it calls out your House, go and sit at the table.
"Avis, Smithy."
"SLYTHERIN!" shouted the hat a moment after a black-haired, grim-faced boy put it on.
"Boone, Janet."
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Brind'mour, David."
When this blond-haired boy walked up to the stage, he looked very apprehensive indeed. It took the Sorting Hat a moment or two before it shouted, rather sullenly, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Clarily, Urdai."
"What kind of people name their daughter Urdai?" Ron muttered to Harry as the Sorting Hat shouted "SLYTHERIN!" very loudly.
"We're not having much look this year, are we?" Nearly-Headless Nick, the Gryffindor ghost, muttered crossly.
"No, we're not," Harry replied. "You'd think we'd have at least one Gryffindor by now."
"D'mitt, Kaime."
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Joseph, Kirk."
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Harry clapped loudly as a short brown-haired boy walked over to their table and sat on Harry's right side, smiling cheerfully.
"Finally a Gryffindor," Harry muttered, and Nearly-Headless Nick nodded fervently. "How're you, Kirk, was it?"
The boy nodded.
"Fine," he said. "Glad to be in Gryffindor. Nice to meet you..."
"Harry Potter."
Kirk extended his hand, and Harry took it. He had expected the youth to stare at Harry's forehead, but Kirk did nothing of the sort. Instead, he focused his attention on the Sorting.
"McClain, Berverly."
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Harry clapped and cheered once more. Two in a row.
"McKinnon, Robbie."
Harry's eyebrows wrinkled in confusion. He'd heard that name somewhere, but where? McKinnon, McKinnon, McKinnon....
The girl whose name had been called walked up to the Sorting Hat and popped it cheerfully on her head. The instance it touched her head, it shouted "GRYFFINDOR!"
Three in a row.
After another string of names ("SLYTHERIN" "HUFFLEPUFF" "GRYFFINDOR" "HUFFLEPUFF" and "RAVENCLAW"), McGonagall took the tattered hat from the stool and drew it back from the stage.
For the first time, Harry saw Dumbledore walk out onto the stage. Dumbledore's tall figure looked weary and tired, his silvery beard and hair a bit more ragged than usual. He glanced briefly at the students over his half-moon spectacles, then smiled warmly.
"Before we eat," he said, smile turning to a bit of a smirk as Ron groaned loudly, "I would like to announce that we will have a new course this year, for those of you who wish to be in it: Band. A concert band course may be taken in replacement of one course for those over third year. Those who wish to sign up for band may sign up after the feast. Another note, we are just trying this out, and will discontinue it if anything bad happens. I will introduce our three new teachers afterwards, also.
"Now, eat away."
Everyone clapped, and Harry was more than ready to eat the delicious-looking steak in front of him. It had been a while since he'd had a very decent meal, although Mrs. Weasley was indeed a very good cook. The House-Elves had beat her out this time, however.
After main course, desert appeared. Harry and Ron both devoured their chocolate cake (love those House-Elves thought Harry). Once the food cleared from the plates, Dumbledore stood again.
"First, our new teachers," he said. "Defense Against the Dark Arts will be Dol Tallow." The man Harry recognized as the skiing salesperson stepped forward from his seat behind the other teachers. He waved merrily at everyone, winking at Harry. "Now for our band teachers. First, Professor Trinsinitioff" - a man with brownish hair stepped forward and waved very happily at the students - "and his assistant, Professor Tarifina." A woman with more or less the same color hair as Professor Trinsinitioff stepped forward. She was much more stern-looking than either Tallow or Trinsinitioff, with spectacles much like Professor McGonagall's.
"Now for my little speech," said Dumbledore, smiling a bit. "First off, we will be having two balls this year in replace of the Yule Ball, which we thought was a success - one at Halloween, and one at Christmas. There will also be a Farewell Ball for the seventh years at the end of June.
"We will also be having two Hogsmeade trips, which we will go to by carriage as an extra precaution in light of the past summer's events. You are not to leave the castle unless it is for Care of Magical Creatures, Herbology, or with Professors Trinsinitioff or Tarifina for their band classes. Anyone caught in the Forbidden Forest will be immediately given detention for the rest of the year. I do hate being this strict, but it is necessary.
"Now it is time for bed. The prefects will take you to your dormitories."
Dumbledore waved them off, and Hermione immediately took charge in leading the first years along with the others to the Gryffindor tower. As Harry walked from the Great Hall, a hand touched his shoulder calmly.
"Harry, a word if you please," Dumbledore said slowly, looking a bit grim. A few other students were still there, signing up for the band, Harry guessed. They were watching Dumbledore and Harry interestedly.
Harry nodded, ignoring their stares and following Dumbledore's tall figure towards the staff table. They headed for a door Harry had been in once before: Last year when his name had been called from the Goblet of Fire. The Champions' room. Dumbledore opened the door and gestured for Harry to go on in. Harry obliged.
All of the other professors were sitting there as they had been a year before, only now with more there.
Dumbledore gestured for Harry to sit down in a chair near Trinsinitioff and Tarifina, who both smiled at him.
"Harry..." Dumbledore began. "There has been a death."
Harry felt his insides squirm a little bit, but remained calm.
"Who?" he asked slowly.
"Johnston. Dot Johnston," said Dumbledore slowly, pacing in front of Harry. "A Muggle woman. You've probably heard this already...?" Harry nodded. "But I doubt you realized the importance. Dot was a very big gossip in her day, which leads me to think that she knew something."
Harry sat for a moment in silence as Dumbledore's blue eyes stared into his green.
"D'you think Voldemort was behind it?" he asked finally.
"Yes. It has to be Voldemort. No one could have murdered a Muggle like that, leaving no visible signs of murder. I myself do not know how the murder was commited. The Basilisk Voldemort used to murder most of his victims is dead thanks to your efforts. I don't know...how he did it, but he did."
Dumbledore paused a moment, looking thoughtfully at Harry.
"This does not, in fact, concern you for the most part, except that be careful," said Dumbledore seriously. "Do not leave sight of your friends. I will be attending your Quidditch practice, which we're going to start early this year. Be careful."
Harry nodded solemnly.
"Go on to your dorm, unless you wish to sign up for band. The password is Filepina."
Harry nodded again, then left the room, wondering why Dumbledore had told him of the death of a Muggle woman.